Hickenlooper may announce decision on Nathan Dunlap's fate Wednesday

By Ryan ParkerThe Denver Post

Posted:
05/21/2013 09:07:52 PM MDT

Updated:
05/22/2013 08:16:38 AM MDT

Convicted killer Nathan Dunlap arrives back in court after a short recess. Judge William Sylvester set an execution date for Dunlap for the week of August 18th-24th 2013. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

A decision from Governor John Hickenlooper whether Nathan Dunlap will be executed for the Chuck E. Cheese killings may come as soon as Wednesday.

Eric Brown, spokesman for the governor's office told The Denver Post on Tuesday night an announcement on Wednesday was "not out of the question."

Hickenlooper has met with dozens of advocates on both sides of the issue since Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester set the week of Aug. 18 as the time Dunlap should die for killing three teenage employees and their 50-year-old manager during the robbery of a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in Aurora nearly 20 years ago.

The acting Department of Corrections chief will pick the exact date of execution.

A press conference has been scheduled at the state Capitol Wednesday afternoon by the Arapahoe District Attorney's office. The DA originally planned a Friday news conference.

"Whenever the governor decides he's going to make the decision, it's my sincere hope he gives my office and the victims of this heinous crime advance notice so that they can prepare themselves. Especially if he's going to grant clemency," George Brauchler, Arapahoe County District Attorney told The Post Tuesday night.

The governor's office intends to try to reach as many victims as possible before the governor announces his decision, Brown said.

Brauchler said his office has been "hearing from several sources" that the governor's decision is imminent and could come as early as Wednesday afternoon.

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In December 1993, Dunlap, then 19, went to the Aurora Chuck E. Cheese's where he once worked and killed 17-year-olds Ben Grant and Colleen O'Connor, 19-year-old Sylvia Crowell and 50-year-old Margaret Kohlberg, all employees of the restaurant who were closing it for the night.

He also shot and seriously wounded a fifth employee, Bobby Stephens, and made off with about $1,500 in cash and game tokens.

Dunlap is one of three men on death row in Colorado. The other two, Sir Mario Owens and Robert Ray, were convicted in the 2005 murder of Javad Marshall-Fields and his fiancée, Vivian Wolfe.

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